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Carlene Moore

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Carlene Denise Moore-Begnaud (born August 27, 1973) is an American Professional Wrestler from New Orleans, Louisiana best known for her work in ECW and WWE as Jazz. She started her career in 1998 after training with the Junkyard Dog and, after he passed away, Rod Price, under the name Jazzmyn. After wrestling for a year she debuted in ECW as the anonymous black woman in Justin Credible's entourage before breaking out on her own and turning face. She made her PPV debut defeating Jason at ECW Heat Wave 99. She stayed with the company until the end in 2001. After the company died, WWE sent her to their developmental league OVW for more training. She debuted as a Heel in the Six-Pack Challenge for the vacant WWE Women's Title. She started her first major feud by going after the winner, Trish Stratus.

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Jazz would defeat Trish for the title on the February 4, 2002 Raw and successfully defend it by pinning Litaclean in a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania X8. In a case of Real Life Writes the Plot, and what would become a recurring theme in Jazz's WWE career, she lost the title to Trish after suffering a torn ACL in her knee. Jazz regained the belt from Trish at Backlash 2003. On the June 30, 2003 Raw, there was a Seven-Woman Battle Royal for the title involving Jazz, Ivory, Jacqueline, Trish, Molly Holly, Victoria and the debuting Gail Kim, who won. Jazz was the first eliminated, because she had suffered a chipped and dislocated shoulder. She was used much less once she returned, mainly as a manager for Rodney Mack (her Real Life husband, though their relationship was never acknowledged on-screen.) WWE released her in November 2004 supposedly due to a lack of ideas for her. She went to IWA Japan before returning to the USA independent circuit, particularly NWA Cyberspace, until WWE called her in 2006 for WWECW. Aside from one match against then-Champion Mickie James on the ECW vs. WWE: Head to Head special though, she did not have any kind of onscreen role, and she and Rodney Mack were released again in 2007. She went to France for the Fighting Spirit Federation and Queens Of Chaos before returning to the USA independent circuit. Among the various promotions Jazz has competed for, she has also had some standout rolls SHIMMER's sister promotion SHINE and National Wrestling Superstars.

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During Jazz's first reign as WWF Women's Champion, there was an effort to "get the F out" meaning she's technically the first to hold both the WWF and WWE belts. Jazz has also held NWA Cyberspace Women's Title, The Women's Extreme Wrestling World Title, half of WSU's Tag Team Titles, Universal Championship Wrestling's Women's Title, Downsouth Championship Wrestling's Louisiana State Title and the NWA World Women's Title belt. She was inducted into the WSU Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Texas Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012.

"Fighting Female Tropes":

They had planted the seeds for a Lita and Jazz program shortly after WrestleMania X8, with Lita pinning Jazz in a tag team match. But Lita broke her neck filming Dark Angel and Jazz herself discovered her torn ACL shortly afterwards - resulting in Trish Stratus becoming Women's Champion again.

In 2003 Ivory began picking up a succession of wins over Jazz in various tag team matches, hinting at a program between them. Jazz again was injured, and written off TV.

(in WWE): Trish Stratus in the sense that she was Jazz's most encountered enemy, although it was more due to Trish being the Women's Champion and Jazz being determined to get the title for herself, rather than anything really personal against Trish. Of course, she generally didn't like ANYONE, which was, actually, a central part of her charm.

Badass Armfold: Often while Theodore Long would be cutting promos she would just be behind him with the rest of Thuggin and Buggin doing this. Also frequently in Queens of Chaos.

She'd frequently taunt in similar fashion during her WWE matches and wherever else she worked heel. Jazz has almost enough accomplishments for every opponent she's wrestled and for every crowd she's wrestled in front of, she isn't very repetitive on this front.

She challenged Bubba Ray Dudley for the WWE Hardcore Championship. A promo before the match showed Jazz doing pushups while Molly Holly told her she didn't stand a chance. Jazz didn't say a word:

Molly: You're not as tough as Bubba.

Jazz: Stands up, and gives Molly a Death Glare before leaving for the match

Married in Real Life to wrestler Rodney Mack. Both trained with The Junkyard Dog and Rod Price and they tag-teamed in NWA Southwest, among others.

Had a kayfabe relationship with Steven Richards in the WWE. She helped him win the Hardcore Championship, and he helped interfere in her Women's Championship matches.

Beauty Is Never Tarnished: She sat on the sidelines after getting a shiner from Trish but did still appear on television with it and do a run in.

Big Damn Heroes: Jazz saved Jeff Ruoss, Frank Krewda, Brady Hicks, and Dave Lenker of Pro Wrestling Illustrated from Angel Orsini, who had finally snapped after they awardedMercedes Martinez for being recognized as WSU's Wrestler of the year and the second best wrestler in the entire world.

Big "SHUT UP!": After defeatingRosita at CWF Mid-Atlantic No Excuses on July 28, 2012, some of the guys in the audience were accusing her of being out of shape.

"This is after two kids. What's your excuse?"

Boobs of Steel: Inverted, she had the smallest rack of among WWE's contemporary "divas" but was obviously stronger than all of her competitors with the only possible exception being the much larger Victoria. Even then, she was the strongest pound for pound. Not quite so much elsewhere, with competition such as Trinity, who boasted to have "the best biceps in the business" in NWA Cyberspace.

Brawn Hilda: If she's a heel. Notably Jerry Lawler would portray her as such.

The Bully/For the Evulz: Seems to be why she does a lot of what she does. Attached to the "Bra and Panties Trish vs. Miss Jackie (Gayda)" extra on the 2004 WWE Divas South of the Border DVD is an Easter Egg of Jackie doing a photo shoot next to a small pool and Jazz randomly walking over, pushing Jackie into the pool and yelling "BITCH!", with Jackie looking completely confused.

Bullying a Dragon/Too Dumb to Live: She narrowly averted this. She was in 2 Cold Scorpio's corner for his match with ECW World Heavyweight ChampionMike Awesome, to counter Awesome's manager Judge Jeff Jones, on the December 10 (taped December 2), 1999 episode of ECW On TNN. At one point, with Scorpio down, she ran into the ring and tried punching away at Awesome to no effect. He grabbed her and set her up for the Awesome Bomb but Scorpio came off the top with a clothesline to make the save.

Cast from Hit Points: She likes to float from a grounded front headlock into a bridging back stretch but never held onto for very long. Johnathan Coachman eventually explained that Jazz never keeps it on too long because she hurts her own back when she does it. She did seem to get past that limitation after leaving WWE though.

Combat Compliment: Jazz dismissed the notion MsChif was a "real" wrestler upon meeting her. About thirteen minutes into their match, Jazz still showed nothing but contempt for her but announced to her fans that MsChif was proving tougher than expected.

Continuity Nod: She sometimes wore a white shirt with red letters reading "Where My Dogs At?" as part of her entrance attire. Rodney Mack used to go by Redd Dogg and was part of a tag team called the Dogg Pound with Shelton Benjamin. For the same reason, she's also worn a red bandana during some of her matches.

Crossover: Been in a few, but her and LuFisto attacking each other at nCw Femme Fatales with title belts form two different promotions in two different countries, LuFisto's POP Women's Title from VO in Mexico, Jazz's DCW Louisiana State belt, is a standout.

Seemingly the case with Cheerleader Melissa after ChickFight V. At the very least, Jazz gained respect for her.

Took a liking to the first WSU champion, Alicia, after losing to her on its Fourth Anniversary show.

She and Ivelisse Vélez found common ground after trading wins and losses. Probably helped that Velez was no longer part of Valkyrie at their second encounter.

Demoted to Extra: In WWE and it was sad. She had the terrible bad luck to get serious injuries both times she was Women's Champion. Both injuries left her out of action for well over eight months - so by the time she returned in 2004, it seemed they'd pretty much given up on her.

Disqualification-Induced Victory: Attempted to give one to Joseline Navarro, for some reason, during an NWA World Women's Title defense against Joseline Navarro, where after thoroughly out wrestling her, Jazz lifted Navarro over her head and dropped her over the top rope. Defied as Jazz turned her back and did not see Navarro had managed to catch a rope and avoid hitting the floor. From here she finally started to get some offense on Jazz, but ultimately lost once Jazz started taking her seriously.

Enemy Mine: She made it clear to Victoria that they were not allies and that she wanted the Women's Championship. But she did sometimes take Victoria's side when they were in tag matches, or in triple threat.

Eviler Than Thou: Jazz and Victoria defeated Jacqueline and Molly Holly on the February 17, 2003 Raw. During the match, Jazz seemed to be hogging the action, tagging in when Victoria was clearly in control and thus did not need to tag out for help. Jazz won the match by pinning Jacqueline with a DDT. Jazz hit the Bitch Clamp (not named as such yet) on both Molly and Jacqueline after the match. Victoria got in Jazz's face and slapped her, and Jazz just smiled.

FaceHeel Turn: A frequent occurrence as the reigning NWA World Women's Champion. Most fans were predisposed to cheer for Jazz but the longer her reign, the more is owed to sketchy circumstances and in some cases, outright cheating, thus the pro Jazz fans and areas become fewer and fewer in number.

Fleeting Demographic Rule: Her 2002 feud with Trish Stratus was quite similar to Bull Nakano vs Alundra Blayze - dark-skinned, crazy 'beast' vs beautiful blonde plucky 'beauty'. It would even be repeated somewhat when Victoria feuded with Trish later in the year - although with Victoria portraying a Yandere. Beth Phoenix would have similar feuds with Candice Michelle and Kelly Kelly later on (and her Glam Slam was similar to Jazz's Bitch Clamp).

Garbage Wrestler: Gets this reputation from people looking at her resume and seeing things like Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, ECW, IWA Japan and Women's Extreme. Jazz is a respected wrestler who can do it all, including take shots from trash lids or hazardous waste shots. Notably, she was pretty much the only woman in the WWE to openly challenge a male wrestler (in her case, Bubba Ray Dudley) for the Hardcore Championship. Other women previously won it, but only by attacking male wrestlers In the Back or while they were otherwise prone under the title's 24/7 rule.

Glass Cannon: For all her strength and ability, she seemed to be very injury prone. She actually had a basketball scholarship while in college until a knee injury ended those dreams. Oddly, she got injured both times going into matches where she lost the title. Even in the ring, though Jazz is very strong she is still relatively short and so gets knocked down more often and reverses fewer Irish whips than other power wrestlers.

Groin Attack: When Jazz challenged Bubba Ray Dudley for the Hardcore Championship, Jazz initially let him push her around. When he got complacent, she kicked him right in the crotch before running to get some weapons.

Heel: In WWE. She was supposed to be the face on the ECW vs WWE Head To Head special but everyone still cheered for Mickie James. She did have successful face runs in ECW proper, Women's Extreme Wrestling, WSU and SHINE. WWE is really the odd place out as far as any she was in any amount of time with no successful face pops, but it is also where her most known work was done outside maybe ECW.

Hidden Depths: Despite being billed as mainly a power wrestler, Jazz also possessed good aerial ability too - notably the height she's able to get on her dropkicks. Not surprising since she used to play basketball.

In the Hood: Frequently as entrance attire, although it is wide and rigid so it doesn't obscure most of her face.

Insult Backfire: Jazz boasting to LuFisto, veteran of the horrifying CZW promotion and holder of Garbage Wrestling title belts in multiple countries on three continents, that she "invented hardcore" just made LuFisto want the honor of fighting a pioneer like Jazz.

Kick the Dog: Jazz liked to attack people who had just had a match and were too tired to fight back.

Made of Iron: Wrestled for a couple of months with a torn ACL without even realising it - during her first Women's Championship reign.

Meaningful Name: She is from New Orleans, LA, believed to be the birth place of Jazz music. Emphasised by having her third (and most famous) WWE entrance theme be jazz music.

Nice Hat: Has wrestled in fatigues with a camouflage trucker cap. During her PGWA Title shot against Tracy Taylor, she wore a skullcap over her bandana.

Nice Job Breaking It, Hero!: Valkyrie may not have ran over SHINE and might not even have formed if Jazz hadn't insisted on fighting Radiant Rain's suspension in order to get her and Mercedes Martinez in the ring at the very next show. Yes, Jazz did bring Amazing Kong back from a wrestling hiatus for this tag team match, yes they won, yes Rain's wrist was broken in the process, which could be seen as karmic for her socking Jazz with brass knuckles and yes, Kong did make fools of Made In Sin the very next day but being back on the roster gave Rain more time to mingle, plot and form a Power Stable whose combined resources now made management afraid to try suspend them again. Most other SHINE wrestlers were afraid too, since Valkyrie revealed themselves by ambushing Amazing Kong with a bat and making a further example out of anyone else in swinging distance. Jazz tried to deal with the mess and to her credit she was the first person to hand Valkyrie a loss, but she injured herself in the process, making it a moot point on Rain's road with Valkyrie to become SHINE's first champion.

No-Nonsense Nemesis: A central part of Jazz's personality during her WWE run. Instead of playing mind games or taunting her opponents, Jazz just let her fists do the talking. She repeatedly attacked her targets, most notably Trish Stratus, especially when they were tired after wrestling someone else and not in good condition to fight back. In her successful Women's Championship title defense against Lita and Trish at Wrestlemania 18, she didn't even wait for Trish's theme to start and immediately attacked Lita once Lita entered the ring.

Power Stable: She was the last person to join the Alliance and of course, was the only woman in Thuggin And Buggin Enterprises.

Power Trio: Team Original Divas Revolution with Victoria and Mickie James in Chikara.

Pride: Knew the likes of Passion and Princess Jana willingly taking her on in tests of strength should have been suspect but kept falling for the trick anyway because she couldn't resist demonstrating that she's stronger. Also why she had so much trouble retaining the World Women's title against Merica, as Jazz was reluctant to move on from "proving" she was stronger, instead of sticking to the mat, where she had a more obvious advantage.

Red Baroness: "The Female Fighting Phenom", "The Baddest Bitch On The Planet".

In the old ECW and WSU and NWA and... most of the time really but not so much in WWE, especially in Thuggin and Buggin since it is hard not to get overshadowed by Theodore Long, but she let a little show during his celebratory dance following his draft to Smackdown while she was left on Raw.

Pushed as a Scary Black Woman in WWE. Her persona became rather cold-blooded, and her brutal tactics (as noted under Kick the Dog, above) only reinforced this perception. Despite her participation in the photoshoots for the 2002 WWE Divas Undressednote Cover Girl: Torrie Wilson, 2003 WWE Divas Desert Heatnote Cover girl: Torrie Wilson again and 2004 WWE Divas South of the Bordernote Cover girl: Stacy Keibler DVDs, she was NOT pushed as a Ms. Fanservice character.

After Victoria defeated Trish in their "Chicago Street Fight" on the January 27, 2003 Raw, she and Steven Richards were laughing evilly on the stage when Jazz made her return by shoving Victoria out of the way, power-walking down to the ring and confronting Trish, who did a great Oh, Crap!/Anything but That!Eye Take. Jazz gave Trish a DDT and a Fisherman's Buster before applying the STF. Jazz stood up and said, "I'm back, baby!"

Before her title match with Trish Stratus at the 2003 Backlash event, Jazz announced to the crowd that "the bitch is back, and the bitch is black!" Jazz lived up to it with a decisive win over Trish to retake the Women's Championship.

The Silent Bob: A lot of the times, she wouldn't talk. Although, as the page photo demonstrates, she didn't need to talk to get her points across.

Sink-or-Swim Mentor: Jazz and Rodney Mack were training wrestlers even before they opened their own gym, though the methods they demonstrated at shows and on tape tended to be a little harsh. That said, Jazz was rewarding of the trainee's who "passed" her tests (such as Angelina at MLW Magnificent Mayhem)

Small Name, Big Ego: Jazz often has shades of it. How many three counts could those elbow drops have gotten if she wasn't telling everyone she was the best of all time in between them? In WWE especially, where Theodore Long was happy to bolster her ego even further.

Spiritual Successor: Beth Phoenix in an odd way. Both were powerhouse wrestlers put into a David vs Goliath feud against a model-turned-wrestler underdog (Jazz vs Trish, and Beth vs Candice Michelle and later Kelly Kelly too). Both used a Fisherman's Suplex as a finisher. Beth's second (and more iconic) finisher the Glam Slam is a variation of Jazz's signature Bitch Clamp.

Had one in Gail Kim after they were both unceremoniously released from WWE. Kim followed her across at least two countries! As if Jazz's ego needed another boost from the knowledge Kim put in all that effort just to have a match.

Jazz was one to Trish Stratus early in her WWE run. Jazz was obsessed with taking the Women's Championship from Trish, and repeatedly attacked her backstage and after matches.

Start My Own: After she and Rodney Mack were released, they started their own promotion, Downsouth Championship Wrestling (formerly Dirtysouth Championship Wrestling), in Louisiana. They later opened a fitness gym for kids and the Dog Pound, their own wrestling school.

Three Month Rule: She made a return from injury in 2004 attacking Trish Stratus - her hated rival. Roughly seven months later when Trish was now the top heel on Raw, Jazz teamed with her and even held a mock baby shower for Lita with her.

Throwing Down the Gauntlet: At Ring Of Glory, she called out fellow Queen Of Chaos Trinity, who was content to watch the show as a fan. Trinity delegated Jazz's challenge to her student, Rain.

At ECW HeatWave 99, she defeated Jason to become the first woman to win a match on an ECW PPV. (Later that same night, Francinesquashed Steve Corino in an improvised "match" that had started as a Tommy Dreamer promo.)

Villain Team-Up: Frequently with Molly Holly in 2002. Grudgingly with Victoria in 2003. Also reluctantly with Gabbi Gilbert as NWA World Women's Champion, as Gilbert came off as an annyoing Fangirl, but did help her retain the belt.

The Worf Effect: Upon making her WEW return, Jazz repeatedly slammed Wildfire into a flaming table that just wouldn't break before just deciding to go for a pin fall victory. This made Steve The Sound Guy look like a bigger threat when he easily put Pussy Willow through that same table.

Worthy Opponent: She and Amazing Kong used to think of Mercedes Martinez as one in WSU. Also Athena, who Jazz doesn't seem to like very much but did help further train after beating.

Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Just when it looked like Jazz and Angel Orsini's antagonism had given way to friendship, Jazz faked a knee injury to win WSU's Second Uncensored Rumble.

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